Dac choices

[jantheman]

We are all aware of the law of diminishing returns but from what I have been reading of late, specifically in connection with dacs, is that law kicks in pretty early. It would appear that once you hit the 1K mark you need to spend serious money (as if 1K wasnt serious enough) to gain anything other than a minor improvement. Many on here would say that you dont need to spend that much. If I had the ££ I would buy better, without a doubt, I would snap up a Weiss on the spot and I havent even heard it......YET. However, ££ is a finite resource.

Up until very recently there has been a hole in the range of affordable dacs. Plenty available around the 200 mark and the next price range was around 1K...nothing in between. That situation seems to be changing, all for the better. With new dacs from M2Tech, Arcam, Eastern Electric, Musical Fidelity, the forthcoming Audiolab and Rega and others, there's always something new on the horizon. :steam:

You guessed it, I'm in the market for a dac. I have been looking around for ages but not yet seen or heard anything that I fancy. I'm currently using a MF VDAC / HiFace combo which I like but I'm convinced is holding my system back. I also have a Dacmagic but I dont like it as much as the VDAC.

I have pretty much discounted the Musical Fidelity M1 because from what I can gather it is basically a VDAC in a nice case with an inbuilt PSU and an extra input. I dont need the extra input and I have already upgraded my VDAC PSU.
Likewise the Arcam, no real upgrade in SQ from what I can gather.

Whatever happens I am probably going to wait for the new year just so I can put an extra 2.5% into the chancellors pocket. By that time the Audiolab will be out and the M2Tech will be in better supply, the Rega...who knows!

So....any more suggestions, have I missed something, are my ears so crap I wouldnt notice the difference between a Weiss and a Dacmagic...Dont Laugh at that one because I read a review recently that only put the weiss dac2 about 1.5% above the DM. (Now thats a big case of diminishing returns) How you work sound out as a percentage defeats me but there you go, but I suppose its as good as trying to describe it in any other way.

Over to you........

[roob]

If I were in the market for a new dac I would not consider spending more than£1000, at this sort of level differences in sq are small.
Keith has the new M2 Young dac in stock why not ask him for a loan and see if its worth paying the extra over what you have now.

[Welder]

I’m in the same boat Ray.
I’ve been considering the Wyred4sound Dac2 but I really don’t need the 24/192 capability.
If you have a balanced input amp and are prepared to accept USB only connection then I can’t recommend the HRT Pro highly enough.
Yep, I know it doesn’t look much.
Yep, I know it’s got no knobs and dials.
Yep, I know the audiophools will laugh when they see it.
Forget all that and listen to it :)

[PRYML]

Up until very recently there has been a hole in the range of affordable dacs. Plenty available around the 200 mark and the next price range was around 1K...nothing in between. That situation seems to be changing, all for the better. With new dacs from M2Tech, Arcam, Eastern Electric, Musical Fidelity, the forthcoming Audiolab and Rega and others, there's always something new on the horizon. :steam:

You guessed it, I'm in the market for a dac. I have been looking around for ages but not yet seen or heard anything that I fancy. I'm currently using a MF VDAC / HiFace combo which I like but I'm convinced is holding my system back. I also have a Dacmagic but I dont like it as much as the VDAC.

May I suggest "the hole" be filled with the Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC i.e. if you can get one in from the US or E.Asia where it sells for much cheaper and voltage adjustable; it also has an actual tube output since you're (I'm assuming) taken by the "tubey" sound of the MF VDAC :)

And to please the tweakers/fiddlers, you've the option of tube-rolling, phase-inversion, multiple digital inputs and two dials to play with! :eek:

[Ali Tait]

The Audio Note dac zero is rather fine with some good coupling caps fitted.

[PRYML]

And to please the tweakers/fiddlers, you've the option of tube-rolling, phase-inversion, multiple digital inputs and two dials to play with! :eek:

I forgot to add that it also uses a detachable mains cable which you can easily replace with "audiophile-grade" alternatives, if that's where your tweakiness takes you :)

[jantheman]

http://www.violectric.de/Pages/en/products/dacv800.php
I'm tempted....really tempted........

[roob]

The dac v800 is available a bit cheaper here http://www.thomann.de/gb/violectric_dac_v800_2kanal_d_a_wandler.htm
Pity its not asyn usb though

[jantheman]

Pity its not asyn usb though
Doesnt matter...I have an M2Tech HiFace...
I'm talking myself into this.........:lolsign:

[Lee Henley]

The Lavry DA10 and DA 11 are getting good reports, they are a couple of Dacs I am considering

[Effem]

My own preferences are still for the old 20 bit DACS from the likes of Monarchy Audio.

If I had to have one of the latest crop it would be an MHDT Havana.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1208/mhdt_labs_havana.htm

[Jonboy]

The Audio Note dac zero is rather fine with some good coupling caps fitted.

I have a black one fitted with Jensons and also a standard black one for sale PM me if your interested

[Ali Tait]

Cheers mate but I already have one with AN coppers fitted.

[Jonboy]

Cheers mate but I already have one with AN coppers fitted.

I know ALi, i was offering it to Ray on your recomendation, sorry for the confusion :doh:

[jantheman]

Thanks for the offer Jonboy but I went http://www.violectric.de/Pages/en/products/dacv800.php
Arrived today...will post some more after I have had time to evaluate. Initial impressions...very clear and smoooooooth

[jantheman]

Bummer. After waiting for a toslink cable to arrive from MG, I tried to plug it in and found that the toslink socket was busted. No way was the cable going to fit, the socket was loose and wobbly......ooo er misus. The coax that I have been using was fine.
Its back in its box awaiting collection. Disappointed big time.
Well thats it till after xmas now and the lookout starts again.
Nice sounding dac so MAY just get it exchanged...not sure yet.

[jantheman]

Here we go again. Refund received fom Thomann. No too bad a service from them but you have to keep on their tail.

[musicmatters]

If you can stand to spend just $200, then the NOS VALAB might do. It makes v. good music. It also fulfills your primary requirement, re mitigating the effects of "diminishing return".

[Ali Tait]

Yes agreed. I have one that runs off the Sky box. It's very good, though I haven't got round to tweaking it yet. Shame it won't play hi rez though.